Anyone else having a really tough time getting kick serves to really kick? Going in I thought this thing would be epic at spin serves and kickers and sloppily weird at heaters, and to my surprise it's been the opposite - the heaters are easily cracked and surprisingly accurate, spin serves are decent but not wild... But the kickers are doing almost nothing off the bounce. My only big gripe so far.

Otherwise, Been demoing this frame and like it a lot. Everything's just easy so far, the swing, the depth. I can rally all day long and believe this to be a grinder's dream stick, more so than a put-away killer of the ball. Superb tweener stick.

Well, it's more difficult than what I'm used to, which are more driving sticks with tighter patterns and more heft, which plow through the ball and court more easily. The Steam is a different beast for me. The ball tends to sail slower - but often longer - through the air, so the ball flight gives it depth but the pace isn't screaming. Result, very often then, is that the opponent gets to the ball but then has to deal with a short hop and sometimes a very tricky bounce.

That's why I say it's more of a grinder's stick. The ball flies faster and more directly off of my other frames, so I get more winners. They're also heavier and tighter in pattern, so if I miss, I miss short. With the Steam, I miss long when I miss. But not launching the ball as often as I thought I would. And I CAN flatten the ball out with the Steam, but not as easily and still not as 'heavily' as what I'm used to.

With the Steam I feel like David Ferrer. I'm going to get everything back and move you and spin you to death, grind you down and either let you make the mistake or ill hit a winner when I open up the right angle after a few shots. With my Radicals I'm playing a bit more 'first-strike' tennis, more winners, probably more unforced errors into the tape.

Either can win matches. Thus far my other sticks feel more satisfying but the Steam demo has been doing nothing but winning points since I got it.

Well, it's more difficult than what I'm used to, which are more driving sticks with tighter patterns and more heft, which plow through the ball and court more easily. The Steam is a different beast for me. The ball tends to sail slower - but often longer - through the air, so the ball flight gives it depth but the pace isn't screaming. Result, very often then, is that the opponent gets to the ball but then has to deal with a short hop and sometimes a very tricky bounce.

That's why I say it's more of a grinder's stick. The ball flies faster and more directly off of my other frames, so I get more winners. They're also heavier and tighter in pattern, so if I miss, I miss short. With the Steam, I miss long when I miss. But not launching the ball as often as I thought I would. And I CAN flatten the ball out with the Steam, but not as easily and still not as 'heavily' as what I'm used to.

With the Steam I feel like David Ferrer. I'm going to get everything back and move you and spin you to death, grind you down and either let you make the mistake or ill hit a winner when I open up the right angle after a few shots. With my Radicals I'm playing a bit more 'first-strike' tennis, more winners, probably more unforced errors into the tape.

Either can win matches. Thus far my other sticks feel more satisfying but the Steam demo has been doing nothing but winning points since I got it.

Oh dear, I agree with you Gads, especially on the evidence of 1 set I played yesterday. Frankly, it's a bit of a worry because the above so puts me in mind of my experiences of toiling away with the Exo 100. Took me maybe a month to realize that frame and me didn't match up. Hope this isn't the same scenario.

Just an FYI since I use the 105s instead of the 99s, but the Kirschbaum Pro Line II has been working really well for me. And after 1 hour of a lesson last night hitting a lot of balls, then 3hrs+ play today (2 sets of singles, 2 sets of doubles) there is a little notching, but not anything compared to the Dunlop Black Widow I had tried.

Feel was very soft, decent control, good power, and good pace and spin on serves.

Just an FYI since I use the 105s instead of the 99s, but the Kirschbaum Pro Line II has been working really well for me. And after 1 hour of a lesson last night hitting a lot of balls, then 3hrs+ play today (2 sets of singles, 2 sets of doubles) there is a little notching, but not anything compared to the Dunlop Black Widow I had tried.

Feel was very soft, decent control, good power, and good pace and spin on serves.

Thanks, I have one of each frame and like this feedback, much appreciated. I am considering Kirschbaum Super Smash 16 since TW has them at 4 pack for only $16.....at $4 a pack it might be worth the try, any experience with that line from K?

Thanks, I have one of each frame and like this feedback, much appreciated. I am considering Kirschbaum Super Smash 16 since TW has them at 4 pack for only $16.....at $4 a pack it might be worth the try, any experience with that line from K?

No, not me... only the Spiky Shark and Pro Line II. I saw the Kirschbaum Basic Poly reel was only $59 too... but I haven't tried that either.

Bought, David. I'm playing Monday at least, so should be able to gauge what we're talking about a bit better.

Do wonder if Gads is right though.

For me, at the beginning, you're kind of swayed by the tweener edging towards player stick vibe. The fairly wide range of undoubted attributes, incl. the really easy swinging, relative solidness, raking depth, and knowledge that something a bit different (can't quite say what) is happening spin-wise.

My first negative thought was it actually isn't so solid as maybe I'm now wanting. Followed by I'm not quite getting the response I want on g/strokes. Followed by why am I getting picked off so much?

If you throw in the PITA hassles re stringing, ah... it maybe doesn't look so rosy eh?

Anyhow, will see Monday quite how much this is warranted. Could well be over-reaction on my part. For half the match on Friday I was much more "on it."

Ross you need to judge a new racket over the course of a couple weeks. You can't blame every little up-and-down on the racket. Is your game that steady to where you can really judge if it's the racket or if its you if you have a bad set or bad day with it? Take all these little judgments and thoughts out of the equation and just play with it for a little while and see how you do on court. Let the on court results speak for themselves otherwise you can drive yourself crazy trying to come to conclusions after every day out there with the new racket.

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Ross you need to judge a new racket over the course of a couple weeks. You can't blame every little up-and-down on the racket. Is your game that steady to where you can really judge if it's the racket or if its you if you have a bad set or bad day with it? Take all these little judgments and thoughts out of the equation and just play with it for a little while and see how you do on court. Let the on court results speak for themselves otherwise you can drive yourself crazy trying to come to conclusions after every day out there with the new racket.

I had a feeling you might chime in here, Jack.

I completely agree with you - which is why I've been at pains to emphasize on virtually every post that I need more playing time to get a properly informed POV.

That said, to a degree, when you're a confirmed racketaholic of many years standing haha (as many of us are, for our ills), and have some experience-based understanding and 'nose' for gauging this stuff, you can begin to formulate some ideas... to a degree.

Anyhow, at the end of the day, all we (Gads, David and me, in the instance you refer to; others throughout the thread obviously) are doing is enthusiastically debating and sharing our findings on this intriguing frame as it evolves... isn't that what the thread is kind of about?

Got to hit with the 99S again, because one of the guys i play doubles with rented it after i suggested they should. Well, the strings were finally broke in and softer, so the racket played a tad less harsh. But also with lower tension my best attempts at big spin made the ball just barely go out. My serve I noticed bounced a little higher, yet didn't have the driving power i normally have. Which, I am counting as a huge negative. I agree with JGads, who said this is a grinders stick. I realize I would have to change my mindset and game to a more non winner hitting game and just grind to win.
This came to me when I picked up my trusty microgel mp with some lead around the head and took a semi fast serve and took a very fast swing and whacked the ball! Thinking, if i had the 99S in my hand, that would have hit the back of the bubble! And then, happy i found my super fast swing speed(instead of trying to make controlled spin), I just cracked away at balls for the final minutes there.
I know making less errors I would ultimately become a better player if i got a 99s and became more of a grinder. But then also realized how fun it is to blast 80mph forehands for winners is! My racket, even though most would call a "control racket", is the most powerful racket i have ever used, because i can swing it far faster than any other frame and it will go in(at least, most of the time). So, for now, and again, hoping like others they make something more thin beamed, gonna keep cracking the ball with my microgel and go for slighty safer targets.

you can definitely form an opinion after a few sets of competitive play and least to the point where you can also tell if a particular racket still needs more adjustment time to make a decision and if it has qualities to make you want to further dial it in.

In my case, I have a pretty short demo cycle because I know that just hitting with a racket is totally inconclusive especially as rackets I love hitting with are not always rackets I am effective with results wise. For example, I love hitting the IG Prestige Mid but i cannot use it effectively in a match (more accomplished players can of course). On the other hand, I am very effective results wise with the Blade BLX (and MG Rad) but don't actually enjoy hitting with it much and it is harsh on the arm.

Best routine for me is competitive singles against both a crafty style players and a big hitter but it must be a real match not a knock-up plus ideally competitive doubles but that is a bonus as i prioritise singles.

In truth, i have been on a pretty strong run of results with various rackets in hand but for big games, I keep going back to the MG Rad or IG Rad OS. The minute they are over, I want to play with something else like the PB 10 Mids I have incoming.

I really like the 99S in hand and it has some great qualities but some I don't like also. Two demo stints, one with a Blacked out version with a Sonic Pro/Addiction hybrid and then the current one with a full bed of poly. I think the non-S 99 might be a better candidate for me but still a fun racket.

Thanks, I have one of each frame and like this feedback, much appreciated. I am considering Kirschbaum Super Smash 16 since TW has them at 4 pack for only $16.....at $4 a pack it might be worth the try, any experience with that line from K?

Which is your preference Racer? If you had a 'must win' match, which would you take with you if you could only have one?

Which is your preference Racer? If you had a 'must win' match, which would you take with you if you could only have one?

Don't know yet, weather has sucked and we don't do much indoor here.....so I have not hit either since they got here. Just a long weekend demo session in December with both. Our season really cranks up in mid February, good or bad in terms of weather. Based on just the demo I lean towards the 105 for a must win doubles match and plan on just the 105 for doubles right now.

I sold the rest of my frames on the bay as I had way too many and don't like collecting them if I can get $ for them online.......so right now my bag only has the 105s and 99s. I am thinking of adding the Organix 7 (295) just in case I really need a light/defensive racquet. I am worried that it will be difficult to play a blocking and defensive doubles game with the S frames. The other reason to add another 16x19 is if I have string issues in a long match.

I'll for sure post more in a couple of weeks when I get to spend lots of time with each.

I have three days of hitting. Day one was outside in 45 degrees with fresh strings with a ball machine. I was consistently getting good depth and was quite impressed with the spin. I was swinging freely and had a number of shots that looked like they were going long stay in. I had bounces that were quite impressive. I figured that I would be buying one at this point.

Day two was indoors, 65 degrees and doubles. I found that if I swung as hard as the day before I was sending things a bit long. It could be because of the temperature difference, that I wasn't getting set up as well or that I was just having an off day. Racquettune said tension had only dropped about 2 lbs. Whatever it was I found I was I no longer had full confidence and was not taking full swings on my forehands. This lowered my racquet head speed and spin. Backhands were still pretty good. Volleys were average - I prefer a hefty racquet. After an hour I pulled out the EXO3 Rebel 95 I was demoing and felt more at home. I was able to swing harder and I enjoyed the weight at the net and felt more confident.

Day three was outside. Started at around 45 degrees, dropped to 38 during the session. I did drills with targets and found that when I missed the target with the 99s I was more often long. With my Diablo mid I was more often short. When it warms up I find depth easy to come by with my Diablo and I fear that I would be long a lot with the 99s.

I still have it for another few days and will continue to hit with it to see if I can figure it out better.

I think the 99s is a really good tweener. It does indeed have more spin. It feels solid on contact and not hollow and cheap. The balance and swingweight were pretty good out of the box. I like the new grip that came on it.

BUT... it is still a tweener and I'm not a tweener kind of guy. I'm more of a 12oz+, 95 or less kind of guy. I hit with the Six.One 95 16x18 yesterday and liked that a lot. I would like to see a Six.One 95S 16x15. That I would probably buy. Rumors are that they will be expanding the S to more racquets for next year, and that Prince is coming out with open patterned grommeted racquets this summer. I will wait until a more players weighted and sized open pattern racquet comes out.

I played the latter a bit just prior to entering the steam room and actually think they aren't so very apart. Certainly in the general traits, particular flex, feel too, as I think one of the TT testers said in the reviews.

I may try and do a side-by-side comparison, although I'd definitely lead up the J - something I did in reverse previously (ie, I began with lead experiments but opted in the end to play it stock. A mistake I think in retrospect.)

I played the latter a bit just prior to entering the steam room and actually think they aren't so very apart. Certainly in the general traits, particular flex, feel too, as I think one of the TT testers said in the reviews.

I may try and do a side-by-side comparison, although I'd definitely lead up the J - something I did in reverse previously (ie, I began with lead experiments but opted in the end to play it stock. A mistake I think in retrospect.)

They are pretty similar. Power is about the same. The 99s feels more solid to me with a more pleasing feel on impact. The Juice is more headlite and whippier. IMO, I don't think the Juice is better than the 99s in any areas.

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